Jeremy Kyle blasted for defence of ‘bear-baiting’ show by former ITV star amid Steve Dymond inquest
Jeremy Kyle’s comments at the inquest into a man who is believed to have taken his own life after appearing on ITV’s The Jeremy Kyle Show have sparked anger from a former Coronation Street star.
Kyle gave evidence at the inquest of Steve Dymond, 63, on Thursday after his death in May 2019 – seven days after filming an episode of the axed ITV show.
The episode featuring Dymond never aired but clips of the episode presented at the inquest showed Dymond failing a lie detector test when asked questions about being faithful to his partner.
Dymond had a history of mental health issues that included being diagnosed with a depressive disorder in 1995 and being sectioned in 2005 as well as self-harm and suicide attempts.
However, a mental health nurse working for the Jeremy Kyle Show said Steve Dymond was “upbeat” when she assessed him to appear on the show and added he “did not score for depression”.
Kyle appeared at Winchester Coroner’s Court on Thursday where he said he was not involved in the screening of guests and refuted the suggestion he “encouraged a response” from the audience against Dymond.
Kyle said his approach to Dymond during the unaired episode “was direct, but it was empathetic, it was honest” and that he encouraged the audience “to give a round of applause”.
The former ITV presenter said: “From the moment Steve Dymond came out, I called him ‘mate’, I called him ‘pal’. I de-escalated, I calmed it down, I pushed it backstage. And that was what the show was all about – conflict resolution.”
However, Dymond’s son also told the inquest that his father had been “very upset” after being “pounced on” during filming, telling his son before his death that he felt Kyle “egged on” the audience to “boo him” and that he was “cast as the liar.”
Soap star Vicky Entwistle, who returned to the spotlight earlier this year after joining the appeal efforts for missing teen Jay Slater due to familial ties, is one of a few famous faces who’ve shared their thoughts on the inquest – and hit out at her former ITV colleague’s testimony.
How on Earth can @JeremyKyleLive defend that horrendous program. A total Bear-Baiting fest!! How it ran for 14 years is a major concern to most. I’m surprised we only have one fatality. Poor Man. 💔
— Vicky Entwistle (@vicky_entwistle) September 5, 2024
Taking to social media, the former Janice Battersby star fumed: “How on Earth can @JeremyKyleLive defend that horrendous program.
“A total Bear-Baiting fest!! How it ran for 14 years is a major concern to most.”
“I’m surprised we only have one fatality. Poor Man,” she signed off, followed by a heartbroken emoji. (sic)
The inquest is still ongoing as clips from the unaired episode of The Jeremy Kyle Show continue to circulate following their broadcast at Winchester Coroner’s Court.
In the episode, Kyle urged Dymond to “be a man, grow a pair of balls and tell her the goddamn truth” after reading the lie detector results.
While the doctor involved in the screening, Steph MacDonald, said Dymond “did not score for depression”, she did reveal he’d disclosed his history with the illness before appearing on the show.
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‘They’ve pointed to the fact Mr Dymond had potentially some experience of mental health problems before the programme was aired…’
GB News’ National Reporter @CDP1882 on ITV’s position on the inquest into the suicide of a guest who appeared on the Jeremy Kyle Show. pic.twitter.com/fkWejgS0YS
— GB News (@GBNEWS) September 5, 2024
MacDonald told inquest counsel Rachel Spearing: “He told me he was diagnosed with depression months earlier. He said he never took the tablets.”
The nurse, who worked on the show until its axe in 2019, said she thought Dymond’s GP was happy with him not being on anti-depressants.
When probed on Dymond’s history of self-harm and suicide attempts, MacDonald said: “I would have thought there was no history because I would have expected a GP to include that.”
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.
